Today is National Fresh Breath Day! Celebrate by following these tips to make your breath nice and fresh.
Drink More Water:
Drinking water helps to produce more saliva which fights bad bath. The smell-producing bacteria thrive when your mouth is dry. Drinking water also helps dislodge particles that are stuck between your teeth.
Don’t Skip Meals:
It is common to experience bad breath when you are dieting or skipping meals. Eating increases the amount of saliva you produce which fights bad breath. Skipping meals causes the mouth to remain dry for longer periods of time which increases bacteria growth and bad breath.
Don’t Skimp on Vitamin C:
Foods that are high in Vitamin C are great at killing bad bacteria in your mouth. Try eating foods like broccoli, bell peppers, spinach and berries.
Brush and Floss:
This tip might seem obvious, but it can make a huge difference. Be mindful of how long you are brushing; we recommend that you brush for at least 2-3 minutes twice a day. When you are brushing, don’t forget to brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth. Don’t skip flossing, either, as the food particles and bacteria that get stuck between your teeth cause bad breath.
Avoid Sugar and Alcohol:
Drinking alcohol dries out your mouth, which helps the bad smelling bacteria to thrive. Allowing sugars to linger in your mouth also helps produce smelly bacteria.
Chew Sugarless Gum:
Chewing gum can dislodge the food particles that may be stuck in your mouth and stimulates salivation. Saliva is a built-in bacteria fighting remedy that helps eliminate bad breath.
Avoid Garlic and Onions:
Foods like garlic and onions can be smelled on the breath for up to three days after consumption. The odors from these foods are absorbed into the blood stream and then enter the lungs. Other strong smelling offenders include pastrami, curry, horseradish, and tuna.
Quit Smoking:
Tobacco use fills your mouth with chemicals that can cause oral diseases, and it also dries out the mouth which helps bacteria to flourish.
Use Mouthwash For Emergencies:
Using a mouthwash can provide temporary relief from bad breath and can help kill bacteria that are causing your breath to stink. For best results, you should swish the mouthwash in your mouth for 30 seconds to a minute before spitting it out.
Visit the Dentist Regularly:
It’s important that you have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year in order to maintain a healthy mouth. Removing the hardened plaque and tartar from your teeth can enhance your breath as well as detect any disease or infection.